..had been to ENT ward (ward 24) to meet Dr. Bakshi. I found him talking to a man about 45 years.
“Sir, My daughter is getting married sir.”
“If you want to take the patient, I’ll discharge her. But do you understand when I say she is in critical stage.”
She was his wife, admitted with end stage laryngeal carcinoma. He, the husband, wanted to take her home for daughter’s marriage.

“Sir, I want to see her.”
“I’ve already mentioned you its female ward and male, whoever they are, are not allowed except for the visiting hours. And no one is allowed outside visiting hours except for a patient attendant, only if the attendant is female."

His daughter was already inside with her mother.
“Your wife was diagnosed with laryngeal carcinoma 2 years ago. Why didn’t you treat her in time?”
“Sir.. We did treat her. Some siddha medicine (herbal/ayurvedia type of medicine).”
“This is how you killed her.”
“She had no problem back then.”
“She is going to die now.”
I was shocked how easily he could explain her that there existed no hopes of recuperation.

But the story I learnt there was more shocking. In short, she was diagnoses with malignant carcinoma of larynx 2 years ago. Being in earlier stage, surgical resection would have cured the problem by then. But instead of going under the blade, they opted the other, the relatively easy appearing way: the herbal and related type of medicine (non allopathic). Except for some pain and hoarseness in voice, she had no major complain. But complains are not always required for a disease to grow to become an end stage one. For 2 whole years, they tried what not (other than the Surgery). The easy appearing way has turned the toughest one now. Survival is approximated for some months. They ae told she is gonna die every day, may be every 5 or 6 hours. All they can do is wait till she dies. A curable disease was rendered fatal because of negligence.
The lady, as doc sa'ab explained to me is well educated, well behaved, understanding and cooperative. She was a teacher in a school in her village.
He said, " It doesnot feel to see such people dying. But if he could or anyone could help....They had noone and nothing to blame. Surgery, here at JIPMER, doesn't require big bucks. Everything is free for patients here so that they can be helped. But this all happens when its taken for granted."



Please never ever let it happen to your own people just because they fear operation or don’t believe in the modern form of medicine. Whatever they say or believe, allopathy is the only evidence based medicine.